Alberto Sols Biomedical Research Institute
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Rapid prototyping for design and test of FPGA-based model predictive controllers for power converters
Get PDFRecent advancements in FPGA technology have made these devices a cost-efective alternative for implementing Model Predictive Controllers (MPCs). This paper addresses the fast prototyping of FPGA-based Finite Control Set (FCS)-MPCs and the essential verifcation process preceding hardware-level testing. The methodology leverages MATLAB HDL Coder for automated HDL code generation. This approach ofers a streamlined process and eliminates the need for expertise in hand-coded HDL, making it an ideal solution for power electronics engineers. The approach is exemplifed using a threephase active neutral point clamped converter. Beyond presenting the design approach, the paper introduces a systematic multi-stage verifcation process essential for the rapid prototyping of FCS-MPC controllers. This verifcation involves stepby-step simulations followed by experimental hardware-in-the-loop tests, ensuring the reliability of each stage for the smooth transition from pure simulation to FPGA hardware implementation of the controller. The proposed methodology not only simplifes the implementation and testing of the MPC algorithm within an FPGA but also facilitates the debugging process, a crucial aspect of the design phaseThis paper is partially funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Proyecto PID2022-137593OB-I00 fnanciado por MCIN / AEI / 10.13039/501100011033 / FEDER, UE
Optimal bounds for POD approximations of infinite horizon control problems based on time derivatives
Get PDFIn this paper we consider the numerical approximation of infinite horizon problems via the dynamic programming approach. The value function of the problem solves a Hamilton– Jacobi–Bellman equation that is approximated by a fully discrete method. It is known that the numerical problem is difficult to handle by the so called curse of dimensionality. To mitigate this issue we apply a reduction of the order by means of a new proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) method based on time derivatives. We carry out the error analysis of the method using recently proved optimal bounds for the fully discrete approximations. Moreover, the use of snapshots based on time derivatives allows us to bound some terms of the error that could not be bounded in a standard POD approach. Some numerical experiments show the good performance of the method in practiceJavier de Frutos: Research supported by Spanish MCIN/AEI under Grants PID2019-104141GB-I00 and PID2022-136550NB-I00 co-finanzed by FEDER (EU) funds and by Junta de Castilla y León under Grant VA169P20 cofinanzed by FEDER (EU) funds. Bosco García-Archilla: Research is supported by Spanish MCIN/AEI under Grants PID2019-104141GB-I00 and PID2022-136550NB-I00 co-finanzed by FEDER (EU) funds. Julia Novo: Research supported Spanish MCIN/AEI under Grants PID2019-104141GB-I00 and PID2022-136550NB-I00 co-finanzed by FEDER (EU) funds and by Junta de Castilla y León under Grant VA169P20 co-finanzed by FEDER (EU) fund
Structure of sessile fouling assemblages on pontoons in marinas differs between brackish and marine salinities
No full textThe number of recreational marinas has recently increased due to the growing demand for leisure boating. Floating pontoons of marinas provide novel habitats to fouling assemblages, specially to sessile habitat-forming species, that increase heterogeneity creating new habitats for mobile and sessile epibionts. Therefore, sessile species play a crucial role in sustaining biodiversity in urban areas. Despite the relevance of sessile fouling assemblages, the role of environmental factors in shaping the structure of these assemblages has not been comprehensively studied. In the present study, the abundance, richness and multivariate structure of sessile fouling assemblages associated with floating pontoons were studied in marinas under two different environmental conditions (brackish and marine), and the influence of environmental variables (salinity, temperature and dissolved oxygen) on fouling assemblages was tested.
Our results showed that univariate variables and assemblage composition significantly differed between environments, with lower values of abundance and richness under brackish conditions. This pattern could result from the influence of freshwater inputs in brackish marinas, that also showed a higher level of multivariate dispersion. Results also pointed out that salinity was the most important factor, explaining 46 %, 56 % and 37 % of abundance, richness and multivariate structure of sessile fouling assemblage, respectively. The sessile assemblage in marine and brackish marinas was dominated in terms of abundance by the native habitat-forming species Mytilus galloprovincialis, which harboured most of the collected sessile epibiont species. These findings highlight the role of floating pontoons to support sessile invertebrates in urban areas where biodiversity may be heavily impactedAuthors would like to thank the staff of the sampled marinas for kindly providing access to their facilities and Fundaçao Calouste Gulbenkian for its support to the program MarUMinho. Comments by two anonymous reviewers have contributed to improving the final version of the paper. This research was funded by the project Marina-Forests (https://doi.org/10.54499/2022.06806.PTDC) funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and partially through national funds within the scope of UIDB/04423/2020 and UIDP/04423/2020 granted to CIIMAR and LA/P/0069/2020 (and to the Associate Laboratory ARNET and (UID/04050 – Centro de Biologia Molecular e Ambiental) to CBMA. P. Veiga (https://doi.org/10.54499/2023.08939. CEECIND/CP2848/CT0002) and M. Rubal (https://doi.org/10.54499/C EECINST/00018/2021/CP2806/CT0021) were hired through the ‘Regulamento do Emprego Científico e Tecnologico’ RJEC’ and J. Fernández-Gutiérrez was supported by a PhD scholarship from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) with reference 2023.04100.BD and DOI identifier https://doi.org/10.54499/2023. 04100.B
N-acetylcysteine and raloxifene boost photodynamic therapy against cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma by decreasing TGFβ1 secreted by cancer-associated fibroblasts
No full textCutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is a highly prevalent skin cancer. While surgery remains the gold standard treatment, non-invasive methods like photodynamic therapy (PDT) stand out for their high efficacy and minimal cosmetic impact. However, resistance to PDT is still a challenge. Numerous cellular processes involved in cancer biology and therapy resistance are regulated by the TGFβ1/SMAD pathway. Using in vitro bidimensional and tridimensional cultures of cSCC cell lines, we studied the development of resistance to PDT in response to TGFβ1 secreted by cancer associated fibroblasts. Our results highlight the TGFβ1 co-receptor endoglin as a key molecular player in the process. Importantly, targeting endoglin expression with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) or raloxifene significantly reduced TGFβ1 levels and effectively prevented resistance. In addition, the combination of PDT with NAC resulted in an improved therapeutic outcome in vivo in SKH-1 mice with cSCC photogenerated by chronic exposition to ultraviolet light. In conclusion, the combination of PDT with NAC or raloxifene enhances PDT efficacy by mitigating resistance mechanisms, which can open new avenues for the treatment of cSCCSCC13 cell line was kindly provided by Dr. Quintanilla (Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sols-Morreale, Madrid, Spain). Raloxifene stock and endoglin antibody were kindly provided by María Luisa Botella research de Investigaciones Biológicas, Madrid, Spain). NAC cream was kindly formulated and provided by Edgar Lachen-Abarca (Lachen Laboratory, Huesca, Spain). This research was funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) through the Projects PI21/00305, PI21/00953, PI24/00687, PI24/01091 and co-funded by the European Union, and by funding from the B59-23D research group, Gobierno de Aragón (Spain)
Developing a Scale of Values and Motivational Orientations Linked to the Willingness for International Mobility
No full textTrabajo Fin de Grado en Psicología. Curso académico 2024-2025
Modalidad D. Proyecto de investigaciónLa movilidad académica internacional constituye una experiencia valiosa, pero no universalmente elegida. Esta investigación analizó el papel de determinados valores personales y orientaciones motivacionales en la decisión de participar. Con respecto a los valores, se aplicó la escala RSVS-11 basada en el modelo de Schwartz, mientras que para las orientaciones se diseñó un nuevo instrumento de medida. Resulta que, en 586 universitarios, valorar la estimulación y el hedonismo, y orientarse hacia la Apertura y el Activismo, favorecen la predisposición. En cambio, los valores de seguridad y conformidad (mediados por la orientación Estabilidad), junto con la Autoaceptación, la disminuyen. El modelo identifica diferentes combinaciones psicosociales que condicionan la decisión de movilidad y ofrece claves para ajustar la promoción de la internacionalizaciónInternational academic mobility is a valuable but not universally chosen experience. This research analyzed the role of specific personal values and motivational orientations in the decision to participate. With regard to the values, the RSVS-11 scale based on the Schwartz model was applied, while a new measuring instrument was designed for the orientations. The results show that, in 586 university students, valuing stimulation and hedonism, and orienting towards Openness and Activism increase the predisposition. In contrast, values of security and conformity (mediated by the Stability orientation), together with Self-acceptance, decrease it. The model identifies different psychosocial combinations that condition the mobility decision and offers keys to adjust the promotion of the internationalizatio
Una experiencia escolar de interpretación musical en el CEIP Juan Zaragüeta
No full textTesis Doctoral inédita leída en la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Facultad de Formación del Profesorado y Educación, Departamento Interfacultativo de Música. Fecha de Lectura: 04-07-2025Los desafíos en la Educación son de vital importancia en la sociedad de cada región. Con nuestra Tesis Doctoral hemos querido dar una proyección musical a la vida escolar del CEIP Juan Zaragüeta. Acercar el mundo profesional de la música al entorno escolar de los estudiantes de Educación Primaria. Hemos realizado un Proyecto Musical basado en la idea de formar un coro con alumnado del centro en colaboración con la orquesta profesional Ars Intima.
En el Marco Teórico de la Tesis Doctoral, hacemos un recorrido por las diferentes
leyes educativas más importantes desde la LOGSE, abordamos las aportaciones más relevantes del siglo XX en el entorno escolar del niño, y por último, vemos modelos representativos de diferentes países de todo el mundo.
El Proyecto Musical dará sentido a nuestro Marco Metodológico, siendo analizado desde dos puntos de vista. El aspecto cuantitativo y el aspecto cualitativo. Todo ello,
mediante la elaboración de cuestionarios a todas las partes integrantes del CEIP Juan Zaragüeta y la entrevista personal a la maestra especialista del área de música.
Los resultados son más que positivos, con un alto porcentaje de admiración a lo que representa la asignatura de música en el centro escolar. Una asignatura que aporta un desarrollo integral en el niñoThe challenges in Education are of vital importance in the Society of each region. With our Doctoral Thesis we wanted to give a musical projection to the school life of the CEIP Juan Zaragüeta. Bring the professional world of music closer to the school environment of Primary Education Students. We have carried out a Musical Project based on the idea of forming a choir with students from the center in collaboration with the professional Orchestra Ars Intima.
In the Theoretical Framework of the Doctoral Thesis, we take a tour of the different most important educational laws from the LOGSE, we address the most relevant
contributions of the 20th century in the child’s School environment, and finally, we see representative educational models from different countries of everyone.
The Musical Project will give meaning to our Methodological Framework, being analyzed from two points of view. The quantitative aspect and the qualitative aspect. All this, through the preparation of questionnaires for all the members of the CEIP Juan Zaragüeta and the personal interview with the specialist teacher in the music area. The results are more than positive, with a high percentage of admiration for what the subject of music represents in the school. A subject that provides comprehensive development in the chil
Confluencias est-éticas: un análisis de la relación de lo bello y lo bueno en Hume y Foucault
No full textTesis Doctoral inédita leída en la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Facultad de Filosofía y Letras, Departamento de Filosofía. Fecha de Lectura: 16-09-2025Esta tesis doctoral estudia la relación entre el valor ético de lo bueno y el valor estético de la belleza, denominada confluencia est-ética, en dos pensadores clave: David Hume y Michel Foucault. Mientras que en Hume esta confluencia se da a través del sujeto epistemológico moderno, en Foucault ocurre en la existencia. El objetivo final es responder a la pregunta sobre la relación entre ambos valores de forma ontológica. En Hume, lo bello y lo bueno se experimentan en el sujeto a través de las pasiones, sin la rigidez representativa de las impresiones sensoriales. No son propiedades de objetos o conductas, sino afectos que emergen en la existencia humana. La belleza, para Hume, no existe como propiedad objetiva, sino que insiste y subsiste en la realidad como acontecimiento. Su filosofía moral está fundada sobre el tiempo más que sobre el espacio. Así, el bien en Hume se concibe como la irrupción de un mundo mejor, una promesa utópica. En cuanto a las intersecciones entre lo bello y lo bueno, se argumenta que los acontecimientos espaciales que fundamentan la experiencia estética pueden generar una conmoción temporal que abre la pregunta sobre futuros posibles.
En Foucault, la estética se vincula con la relación del sujeto consigo mismo y el cuidado de sí. Esta autoconstrucción puede orientarse por valores estéticos en lugar de morales, como ocurrió con la moral cristiana. Sin embargo, su estudio revela un amoralismo y un reduccionismo estético. Para superar esta limitación, se analiza el dandismo como una posible vía para integrar una confluencia est-ética en su pensamiento. A partir de esta exploración, se desarrolla el concepto de ética modal, una aproximación tentativa a la articulación entre lo bello y lo bueno en el ámbito de la existencia.
Las conclusiones sostienen que, así como en Foucault se puede construir una ética modal, en Hume es posible una estética modal. Esto implica una concepción de la realidad en la que lo bueno es una modalidad posible de lo bello. Esta idea se basa en el concepto humeano de moral beauty, donde lo moral es un epíteto restrictivo de un dominio más amplio: la belleza. En ambos casos, un valor se expresa en el otro dentro de un reino distinto: la belleza puede ser una posibilidad corporal del bien (ética modal) y lo bueno puede entenderse como la realización humana de la belleza (estética modal). Otro punto de convergencia entre Hume y Foucault es el concepto de simpatía. Se argumenta que lo bello es una presentización de lo bueno. En Foucault, la vida bella es aquella que se autoconstruye, rechaza la subjetivación impuesta y desafía las dinámicas de poder para realizarse plenamente. La belleza, en este sentido, anticipa un reino de libertad aún no alcanzado. En Hume, el bien es una irrupción del futuro y la belleza es la sacudida espacial que lo posibilita. Así, la belleza se presenta como una promesa y una escenificación de lo posible, mientras que lo posible es el ámbito donde opera la moralidad. En síntesis, esta tesis propone que la confluencia est-ética permite pensar lo bello y lo bueno como dimensiones interrelacionadas de la experiencia humana. Hume y Foucault, pese a sus diferencias, ofrecen claves complementarias para entender esta relación: mientras que en Hume el bien es una utopía por venir y la belleza un acontecimiento que sacude al sujeto, en Foucault la belleza es el preámbulo de una libertad aún no realizada. Ambas perspectivas sugieren que la estética y la ética no son esferas separadas, sino modos de experimentación del mundo que pueden articularse de manera productiva en el pensamiento filosófic
[2+2] Light-driven cycloaddition synthesis of an organic polymer and photocatalytic activity enhancement via monomer truncation
No full textThe synthesis of covalent organic polymers usually relies on polar reactions for the establishment of linkages among the constituent monomers. Herein, the photochemical [2 + 2] olefin cycloaddition reaction is employed as a polymerization tool to yield organic polymers in which the connectivity is based on cyclobutane moieties, as demonstrated by the characterization techniques. The functionalization of the polymer is carried out by means of the monomer truncation strategy with monotopic olefins decorated with different motifs, including the organic photocatalyst 10-phenylphenothiazine (PTH), achieving its connection with a homogeneous 10% functionalization degree. All materials are active photocatalysts in the light-driven oxidative coupling of benzyl amines to the corresponding imines, but the functionalized polymer bearing a photoactive moiety shows an enhancement of the catalytic performance. Indeed, the functionalized-PTH polymer exhibits higher activity (75% yield vs. ∼40% yield) and a stable recyclable character without leaching compared to the non-truncated sampleThis work was supported by MICINN (PID2021-122299NB-100, TED2021-129999B-C32, and TED2021-130470B-100), “Comunidad de Madrid” for European Structural Funds (S2018/NMT4367) and proyectos sin´ ergicos I+D (Y2020/NMT-6469
Kinetic and mechanistic insights into the photo-Fenton oxidation of polystyrene nanoplastics in water
No full textMicroplastics and nanoplastics (NPs) are widespread in aquatic environments and readily accumulate along the food chain. Given their varied sizes in real systems, evaluating degradation processes at various scales is essential for a comprehensive understanding of their fate. In this study, the photo-Fenton degradation of polystyrene (PS) nanospheres with initial particle sizes of D 0 = 140, 252, 460, 909, and 1100 nm was investigated. Oxidation evolution and treatment efficiency were assessed using turbidity and Total Organic Carbon (TOC) measurements, while Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) provides insights into particle size and morphological changes. Pyrolysis–Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) and Ion Chromatography (IC) were used to identify intermediate degradation products. The results demonstrated that smaller particles degraded more rapidly due to their higher surface-to-volume ratio, with complete TOC removal achieved for all particle sizes in relatively short reaction times (40–80 min). The degradation kinetics were accurately described using the Shrinking Core Model and the Prout-Tompkins Model, which revealed distinct stages of reactivity and sigmoid behavior. During the initial activation phase, oxygenated surface groups were incorporated into the PS NPs, followed by chain scission and oxidation into low-molecular-weight aromatic and aliphatic compounds. Finally, these intermediates were fully mineralized into CO 2 residual NPsThis research was supported by the Autónoma University of Madrid and the Community of Madrid through the project SI1-PJI-2019-00006, and by the Spanish Ministry for Science and Innovation through the project TED2021–131380B-C21 and PID2022-139063OB-I00, funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and, as appropriate, by “ERDF A way of making Europe” and by the European Unio
Wild bee diversity and land use: A case study in a mountain agroecosystem of the Serranía de Ronda, southern Spain
No full textMediterranean agroecosystems in the mountainous regions of the southern Iberian Peninsula have experienced major land use changes in recent decades, including intensification and abandonment. These changes have resulted in significant declines in the abundance and diversity of insect pollinators. This study assesses the effects of three land use types (family orchards, chestnutforests and Mediterranean forests) on wild bee communities in the Serranía de Ronda, southern Spain. Generalized linear mixed-effects models were used to evaluate how land use and landscape heterogeneity influence wild bee taxonomic and functional diversity. Results show that orchards support higher wild bee richness and functional diversity than chestnut or Mediterranean forests, and that landscape heterogeneity positively affects functional evenness and dispersion. These findings underscore the importance of maintaining diverse land uses and
landscape heterogeneity to conserve wild bee communities in Mediterranean agroecosystem